European Sleeper experience

[BRX]

It is such a shame about the unreliability of these services. I had hoped to try them next year for my trip in May. The probability of being cancelled or finding my sleeper is a now a seat (my own personal limit) is just too high for me.

I know sleepers schedules can be a bit flexible (late). I tend to plan a day contingency into crucial parts of my itinerary but even that might not be enough as they might cancel or abandon the second day.

I have had some good sleeper trips to Barcelona, Venice and down the east of the US. They can save so much time and money compared to day trains and hotels. Worcester to Barcelona in about 24hours. Compared to two days with a hotel in London, Paris or Nimes.

I wish them well. I am sorry they are not for me.

Is there a record of their actual reliability anywhere? Stats on what % of their services are cancelled or severely disrupted?

 

[paulmch]

For what it's worth I travelled from Brussels to Dresden back in May and it was a great journey. Managed to sleep all the way from Amsterdam to Berlin and we arrived in Dresden bang on time. They've clearly got some challenges but I really hope they can pull through - when they get it right it's a great service!

 

[MattSGB]

For what it's worth I travelled from Brussels to Dresden back in May and it was a great journey. Managed to sleep all the way from Amsterdam to Berlin and we arrived in Dresden bang on time. They've clearly got some challenges but I really hope they can pull through - when they get it right it's a great service!

It's all about customer service. I've seen them at their worst and now I wouldn't risk the experience again even for a bargain-bucket €30 fare. I know a lot of it is out of their control, but the thought of being kicked off the train in the early hours around Berlin mortifies me. Their dreadful handling of refunds just adds to it. For now I'm taking Amsterdam to Vienna as an alternative route - I know NightJet have their faults too but so far I've not experienced it.

 

[rvdborgt]

It's all about customer service. I've seen them at their worst and now I wouldn't risk the experience again even for a bargain-bucket €30 fare. I know a lot of it is out of their control, but the thought of being kicked off the train in the early hours around Berlin mortifies me. Their dreadful handling of refunds just adds to it. For now I'm taking Amsterdam to Vienna as an alternative route - I know NightJet have their faults too but so far I've not experienced it.

On NJ it can also happen that you're kicked off in the middle of the night. It hasn't happened yet to me either, but it has to a friend of mine.

 

[SephenWorceste]

Memories of the Trenhotel

Wonderful. Dinner with wine and the bed. I slept very well.

 

[danshrimp]

How often are sleepers downgraded to seats? From what I can tell downgrades to couchettes - which they have a plentiful supply of - seem more common. (In fact until they recently brought in some extra seats+bikes coaches to add bike capacity, they were often even using folded up couchettes as seats coaches.) The former are a big problem (NJ take note) but the latter, while annoying, don't seem the end of the world to me. At least the couchettes are quite a few decades newer.

I think the real disappointing thing is the customer service, particularly being quite so stingy with refunds. A bit of disorganisation could be overlooked in the early days but they've had plenty of time to get themselves in order now, and they're transparently only clinging on to refunds because they're tight for cash.

 

[StephenHunter]

Thanks for the reminder. I've just chased them for a refund they promised after my delay in May.

That wasn't their fault, mind. Downed overhead wires in Czechia.

 

[williamn]

On NJ it can also happen that you're kicked off in the middle of the night. It hasn't happened yet to me either, but it has to a friend of mine.

Same happened to me on Caledonian Sleeper. Kicked off in Edinburgh at 5am, packed into taxis like sardines, hugely uncomfortable 3 hours on the road to Aberdeen. No CS staff to be seen and only a 20% refund.

 

[StephenHunter]

At least you don't have to pay for the taxi.

 

[doc7austin]

Things are escalating now.
As expected, European Sleeper has not paid the 50% delay compensation within its own set deadline of "8-10 weeks".

This email was just sent to Train Charter Services:

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: **
Date: Sun 24. Aug 2025 at 20:46
Subject: EU passenger rights claim
To: <productcontrol@traincharter.eu>, <info@traincharter.eu>


Hello,

the German EBA has notified me that your company is the operator of the European Sleeper Train Prague-Brussels in Germany.

As such, your company is ultimately liable for paying out EU passenger rights compensation.

European Sleeper Train has not transferred the owed compensation payment of EUR 54.99.

You must pay EUR 54.99 within 7 days from now on, otherwise, I will file a complaint against Train Charter Services with the EBA and may start court action.

account owner: ***
iban: ***
Swift/BIC: ***

You are free to reclaim that money from European Sleeper Train, though, that is not my problem.

You should be careful what you are answering me, as any BS answer will be forwarded straight to the EBA and may result in a heavy administrative penalty against your company.

Best,
***


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: ***
Date: Sun 24. Aug 2025 at 09:05
Subject: Re: Delay payment: ***
To: *** <info@europeansleeper.eu>

Hi,

10 weeks have passed by now.
I cannot find the 50% money refund on my card statement.
Please advise me when you have transferred the EUR 54,99.

Best,
***

On Tue 10. Jun 2025 at 21:27, *** <info@europeansleeper.eu> wrote:

Hi ***

Thank you for filling out the claim form and for your patience during this process. We apologize for the delay you have experienced!

We have proceeded with the refund of 50% (54,99 EUR) as per your claim. You can expect this amount to be refunded to your account within 8 to 10 weeks.

Should you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to us.

Thank you once again for your cooperation.

Met vriendelijke groet, kind regards,

***

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

That wasn't their fault, mind. Downed overhead wires in Czechia.

European Sleeper is free to reclaim the delay payment from the party, which has downed the overhead wires.
However, it is ultimately not the "problem" of the passenger.

 

[StephenHunter]

European Sleeper is free to reclaim the delay payment from the party, which has downed the overhead wires.
However, it is ultimately not the "problem" of the passenger.

Out of curiosity, how would that apply if an unexploded WW2 bomb was the cause of the delay? Claim it from Curtis LeMay's estate?

 

[RT4038]

Out of curiosity, how would that apply if an unexploded WW2 bomb was the cause of the delay? Claim it from Curtis LeMay's estate?

I doubt that would make any difference - the train operator is liable for any compensation claims, and it would be up to them and their contract to reclaim from the Infrastructure operator, who has a responsibility to maintain the lines in an operable condition (howsoever the inoperability has been caused). In the case of a WW2 bomb, that should have been discovered by said infra operator a very long time ago....

 

[doc7austin]

Out of curiosity, how would that apply if an unexploded WW2 bomb was the cause of the delay? Claim it from Curtis LeMay's estate?

The current EU regulation includes a waiver clause that train operators do not have to pay delay compensation for force majeure events, however, not every root cause equals force majeure.

It depends where the WW2 bomb was found - on a railway contruction site or at another construction site.
Moreover, in my case European Sleeper has not invoked the force majeure clause.
The root cause of the delay was a technical fault at the locomotive.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

I doubt that would make any difference - the train operator is liable for any compensation claims, and it would be up to them and their contract to reclaim from the Infrastructure operator, who has a responsibility to maintain the lines in an operable condition (howsoever the inoperability has been caused).

Yes, the force majeure clause does not apply if the train or railway infrastructure operator can claim damages against the party, which has caused the line closure. If a WW2 bomb is found at another construction site, the insurance company of the construction company must pay up.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2025 ==

What a wonder !
24 hours after firing off my emails, the money refund appeared in my bank statement.

 

[parkender102]

Just had an email from European Sleeper saying my Dresden to Brussels Sleeper on 28/08/2025 has had a Timetable Change! Still leaves at 20:30 but arrival time is now 11:38 instead of 09:27 FFS. I've a 15:35 Ryanair Flight to catch to Manchester so still plenty of time - hoping there are no further delays.

Anyone know why and where the delay is? For instance if the train has to sit in Rotterdam or Amsterdam for 2 hours I may as well just take a train from either of those to Brussels (2 Hours) and give myself some breathing space Also any advice on getting to Charleroi? I've taken the train before with the bus connection. Could get the Flibco Airport Bus from the Station Direct. Nothing booked yet. Hand baggage only so straight through security when I get to the Airport. They do like to make things hard don't they?

 

[rvdborgt]

Just had an email from European Sleeper saying my Dresden to Brussels Sleeper on 28/08/2025 has had a Timetable Change! Still leaves at 20:30 but arrival time is now 11:38 instead of 09:27 FFS. I've a 15:35 Ryanair Flight to catch to Manchester so still plenty of time - hoping there are no further delays.

Anyone know why?

I suppose engineering works. They don't mention anything here though:

Disruptions | European Sleeper

europeansleeper.eu

You'll be entitled to 50% compensation for delay.

Also any advice on getting to Charleroi? I've taken the train before with the bus connection. Could get the Flibco Airport Bus from the Station Direct. Nothing booked yet. Hand baggage only so straight through security when I get to the Airport. They do like to make things hard don't they?

You could decide what you do depending on your exact arrival time. By train you can go every 30 minutes, at xx:45 and :15, with a change in Luttre, price is €9.10 + €6 for the TEC bus. Travel time is 1h 10min, see www.belgiantrain.be.
Flibco runs every 20 minutes (xx:00/20/40), price is €18.90 and travel time is 55 minutes.

 

[StephenHunter]

Just had an email from European Sleeper saying my Dresden to Brussels Sleeper on 28/08/2025 has had a Timetable Change! Still leaves at 20:30 but arrival time is now 11:38 instead of 09:27 FFS. I've a 15:35 Ryanair Flight to catch to Manchester so still plenty of time - hoping there are no further delays.

I believe that sort of delay is due to something on the HS line that goes via Stendal and the train is diverted via the slower "Transitzug" route via Magdeburg.

 

[bkhtele]

Travelled 13/8/25 Brussels to Prague, overall a good experience. Delayed 2 hrs @ Brussells line closed, individuals trespassing. Advised in advance by email downgraded from sole sleeper to sole 5 berth couchette- clean comfortable- with window open. Ridiculously hot while awaiting departure. Arrived Prague on time. Staff friendly & helpful. Breakfast a bit haphazard but good when arrived. Take plenty of water if hot weather forecasted. Later took Czech sleeper to Warsaw it was brilliant!

 

[rvdborgt]

Travelled 13/8/25 Brussels to Prague, overall a good experience. Delayed 2 hrs @ Brussells line closed, individuals trespassing. Advised in advance by email downgraded from sole sleeper to sole 5 berth couchette- clean comfortable- with window open. Ridiculously hot while awaiting departure. Arrived Prague on time. Staff friendly & helpful. Breakfast a bit haphazard but good when arrived. Take plenty of water if hot weather forecasted. Later took Czech sleeper to Warsaw it was brilliant!

I hope they did give you a partial refund for the downgrade?

 

[BRX]

I did Brussels to Prague last night. Shared 5 berth couchette compartment. Whole journey went without any problems at all. Friendly staff. It's not as hot as a few weeks ago so can't comment on AC - the window was a bit open all night (which i prefer to being sealed in an AC box anyway) and it was fine.

My impression (based on this journey and one back in April) is that the train runs pretty much 100% occupancy between Amsterdam and Berlin and the bits on either end considerably less full - I'd take a guess at 25 to 30%. This seems to mean that if you're in a shared compartment you've got a fair good chance of having it to yourself between Berlin and Prague. I did this morning and enjoyed the trip down the Elbe.


(Photo from train running alongside the Elbe near the Czech border)

They could do with giving the train a wash. Partly for first impressions - it doesn't bother me but for some travellers I think their overall feeling about the journey and about travelling on clearly aged stock would probably be influenced quite a bit if the train that rolled in was clean and shiny rather than looking grubby and knackered. Secondly because you could hardly see out some of the windows, they were so dirty.
In the ideal world it would all get a new coat of paint too of course, in a unified livery. Then I think they'd do better in selling it as a "classic" or "vintage" train.

 

[bkhtele]

I hope they did give you a partial refund for the downgrade?

Yes apparently it is on its way also a 20% discount on my next booking!

 

[parkender102]

I believe that sort of delay is due to something on the HS line that goes via Stendal and the train is diverted via the slower "Transitzug" route via Magdeburg.

Well no idea where the actual delay was but we seemed to stop for quite a while in Netherlands and Belgium. Must have been maybe where you said as the original Departure Time from Rotterdam was supposed to be around 07:30 and it was actually just after 09:00. So over 2 Hours late into Brussels. Coaches were very dirty on the outside and tired on the inside due to their age but the Train Crew were great and kept everything clean and fresh smelling. I was the sole occupant (Bottom Bunk on the side with only 2 Bunks) from Dresden to Berlin. 2 passengers joined at Berlin going to Amsterdam and Brussels and they occupied 2 Top Bunks so lots of space.

To add to the stress of the journey I'd received an email from Ryanair requesting passengers to arrive 3 Hours before their Flight due to Security Problems (not enough Staff at Charleroi Airport). Luckily I arrived and managed to get on the 12:00 Flibco Bus and was through Security by 13:30 for my 15:35 Flight (also delayed by an hour due to late Take Off from Manchester!)

 

[StephenHunter]

Agree on the "tired" - there is an original Type P at the museum in Mulhouse!

 

[danshrimp]

Getting access to better coaches makes up a big chunk of their plans for the current sharefunding round - I'm intrigued to see they have in mind. There aren't exactly a whole lot knocking around!

 

[AndrewE]

...This seems to mean that if you're in a shared compartment you've got a fair good chance of having it to yourself between Berlin and Prague. I did this morning and enjoyed the trip down the Elbe.

View attachment 187487
(Photo from train running alongside the Elbe near the Czech border)

They could do with giving the train a wash. Partly for first impressions - it doesn't bother me but for some travellers I think their overall feeling about the journey and about travelling on clearly aged stock would probably be influenced quite a bit if the train that rolled in was clean and shiny rather than looking grubby and knackered. Secondly because you could hardly see out some of the windows, they were so dirty.
In the ideal world it would all get a new coat of paint too of course, in a unified livery. Then I think they'd do better in selling it as a "classic" or "vintage" train.

A dirty exterior is disappointing, especially if it spoils the view through the windows, but for me that multi-liveried train brings back happy memories of cross-Europe travel in earlier "real" trains with coaches from multiple origins to varied destinations!

I think our last overnight (couchette) journey was on the reverse working of that, but it left us completely wrecked. We boarded at Prague, enjoyed teh run along the Elbe and would have slept well except that we were told that we couldn't lock the compartment as someone else was getting in at Berlin. So we didn't really go to sleep, then spent a couple of hours in the Berlin suburbs before finally entering whichever Berlin station it was and gaining both a very late-running Eastern European portion and our extra companion, after which we could finally lock the door and get some proper sleep.

Except that is was so late by then that the train ran non-stop through the Ruhr and we only just made a later connection to Brussels for our E* home, I think quite a few missed it... I am afraid that that has put an end to our 40-year history of using couchettes to travel across Europe, easy ones from Channel ports to Switzerland and more than a few to and around Italy, Spain and Yugoslavia too.

 

[StephenHunter]

They lease the carriages, so a new livery might not be allowed.

 

[danshrimp]

They lease the carriages, so a new livery might not be allowed.

It must be, because they previously raised money specifically to do this. They had designs for these specific coaches (including the dining car they're currently not using) ready to go. Alas the money never got spent, presumably swallowed up by day-to-day spending...

 

[BRX]

for me that multi-liveried train brings back happy memories of cross-Europe travel in earlier "real" trains!

Yes, me too.

 

[30907]

I think our last overnight (couchette) journey was on the reverse working of that, but it left us completely wrecked. We boarded at Prague, enjoyed teh run along the Elbe and would have slept well except that we were told that we couldn't lock the compartment as someone else was getting in at Berlin. So we didn't really go to sleep, then spent a couple of hours in the Berlin suburbs before finally entering whichever Berlin station it was and gaining both a very late-running Eastern European portion and our extra companion, after which we could finally lock the door and get some proper sleep.

Except that is was so late by then that the train ran non-stop through the Ruhr and we only just made a later connection to Brussels for our E* home, I think quite a few missed it..

That sounds like a trip on the onetime EN Jan Kiepura which had both Prague and Warsaw portions and ran to or via Cologne. ES isn't multi-portioned and avoids the Ruhr to reach Brussels via Amsterdam.

 

[railfan99]

My impression (based on this journey and one back in April) is that the train runs pretty much 100% occupancy between Amsterdam and Berlin and the bits on either end considerably less full - I'd take a guess at 25 to 30%.

ES is boasting that ticket sales in July and August 2025 rose 15 per cent with more than 500 passengers (on average) using each timetabled departure.

 

[ABB125]

ES is boasting that ticket sales in July and August 2025 rose 15 per cent with more than 500 passengers (on average) using each timetabled departure.

500 average is... quite impressive for a sleeper train! Obviously they have seats as well, and couchettes can be pretty economic with space, but still, I'm impressed